Kali | Hindu goddess | Britannica.com Hindu goddess Shiva Kali, ( Sanskrit: “She Who Is Black” or “She Who Is Death”) in Hinduism , goddess of time, doomsday, and death , or the black goddess (the feminine form of Sanskrit kala, “time-doomsday-death” or “black”). Kali’s origins can be traced to the deities of the village, tribal, and mountain cultures of South Asia who were gradually appropriated and transformed, if never quite tamed, by the Sanskritic traditions. She makes her first major appearance in Sanskrit culture in the Devi Mahatmya (“The Glorifications of the Goddess,” c. 6th century ce). Kali’s iconography, cult, and mythology commonly associate her not only with death but also with sexuality , violence, and, paradoxically, in some later traditions, with motherly love.

Kali, sandstone relief from Bheraghat, near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh state, India, 10th century … Pramod Chandra Although depicted in many forms throughout South Asia (and now much of the world), Kali is most often characterized as black or blue, partially or completely naked, with a long lolling tongue, multiple arms, a skirt or girdle of human arms, a necklace of decapitated heads, and a decapitated head in one of her hands. She is often portrayed standing or dancing on her husband, the god Shiva , who lies prostrate beneath her. Many of those portrayals depict her sticking out her tongue, which is sometimes said to indicate her surprise and embarrassment at discovering that she is trampling on her husband. Yet the association of Kali with an extended tongue has early roots. A precursor of Kali is the ogress Long Tongue, who licks up oblations in the ancient Sanskrit texts known as the Brahmanas . The Devi Mahatmya tells of Kali springing from the anger of the goddess Durga to slay the demon Raktabija (“Blood-Seed”).

During the struggle a new demon emerges from each drop of Raktabija’s blood as it hits the ground; to prevent this, Kali laps up the blood before it can reach the ground. She is also said to have been born when the goddess Parvati shed her dark skin; the sheath became Kali—who is also called Kaushika, “The Sheath”—leaving Parvati in the form of Gauri (“The Fair One”). Similar Topics Kali - Ancient History Encyclopedia Kali by Mark Cartwright published on 21 June 2013 Kali is the Hindu goddess (or Devi ) of death, time, and doomsday and is often associated with sexuality and violence but is also considered a strong mother-figure and symbolic of motherly-love. Kali also embodies shakti - feminine energy, creativity and fertility - and is an incarnation of Parvati, wife of the great Hindu god Shiva . She is most often represented in art as a fearful fighting figure with a necklace of heads, skirt of arms, lolling tongue, and brandishing a knife dripping with blood.

Name & Worship Kali’s name derives from the Sanskrit meaning ‘she who is black’ or ‘she who is death’, but she is also known as Chaturbhuja Kali, Chinnamastā, or Kaushika. As an embodiment of time Kali devours all things, she is irresistibly attractive to mortals and gods, and can also represent (particularly in later traditions) the benevolence of a mother goddess. Advertisement Kali’s name derives from the Sanskrit meaning ‘she who is black’ or ‘she who is death’. The goddess is particularly worshipped in eastern and southern India and specifically in Assam, Kerala, Kashmir, Bengal, - where she is now worshipped in the yearly festival of Kali Puja held on the night of a new moon - and in the Kalighat Temple in the city of Calcutta. Kali’s Birth There are several traditions of how Kali came into existence. One version relates when the warrior goddess Durga, who had ten arms each carrying a weapon and who rode a lion or tiger in battle , fought with Mahishasura (or Mahisa), the buffalo demon.

Durga became so enraged that her anger burst from her forehead in the form of Kali. Once born, the black goddess went wild and ate all the demons she came across, stringing their heads on a chain which she wore around her neck. It seemed impossible to calm Kali’s bloody attacks, which now extended to any wrongdoers, and both people and gods were at a loss what to do. Fortunately, the mighty Shiva stopped Kali’s destructive rampage by lying down in her path, and when the goddess realised just who she was standing on, she finally calmed down. From this story is explained Kali’s association with battlegrounds and areas where cremation is carried out. In another version of the goddess’ birth, Kali appeared when Parvati shed her dark skin which then became Kali, hence one of her names is Kaushika (the Sheath), whilst Parvati is left as Gauri (the Fair One). This story emphasises Kali’s blackness which is symbolic of eternal darkness and which has the potential to both destroy and create.

Remove Ads Advertisement In a third version, men and gods were being terrorised by Daruka who could only be killed by a woman, and Parvati was asked by the gods to deal with the troublesome demon. She responded by jumping down Shiva’s throat. This was because many years previously Shiva had swallowed halahala, the poison which had risen from the churning of the ocean during the creation and which had threatened to pollute the world. By combining with the poison still held in Shiva’s throat, Parvati was transformed into Kali. Leaping from Shiva’s throat in her new guise, Kali swiftly despatched Daruka and all was well with the world once more. Kali & Raktabija Finally, in yet another version of Kali’s birth, there is the story of the terrible demon Raktabija (Blood-seed). This demon was, like most demons, causing a great deal of trouble with people and gods alike but even worse was his ability to produce more demons every time a drop of his blood spilt to the ground. Therefore, each time Raktabija was attacked, the only result was more demons to deal with.

The gods decided to work together and combine all of their shakti or divine energy and produce one super being that could destroy Raktabija; the result was Kali (in another version only Durga produces Kali). Given all the divine weapons of the gods, Kali swiftly sought out Raktabija and his demons and proceeded to swallow them all whole so as not to spill anymore blood in the process. Raktabija himself was killed when Kali lopped off his head with a sword and then drank all of his blood, making sure none fell to the ground and thereby ensuring no more demons could menace the world. Kali: Hindu Goddess of Destruction - The Buddha Garden Kali: Hindu Goddess of Destruction Kali: Hindu Goddess of Destruction Kali is the Goddess of Destruction and Dissolution in Hinduism, and she is one of the most popular goddesses in India. Kali is known for destroying ignorance, and she helps those who strive for knowledge of God. Her name means "The Black One" and the city of Calcutta is named in her honor. The Goddess Kali is fearsome in appearance . She has wild eyes, a protruding tongue, and she wields a bloody sword.

Kali also holds the severed head of a demon, and she wears a belt of severed heads. According to one legend, Kali's passion for blood incited her to once kill numerous Buddhist monks, so you will not see murtis of Kali enshrined on the same altar table with Buddha Statues. In Hinduism, the gods could not kill the demon Raktabija. Every drop of his blood that touched the ground transformed itself into another demon. Within a few minutes of attacking this Asura with their weapons, the gods would find the entire battlefield covered with millions of demon clones. In despair, the gods turned to The God Shiva . But Shiva was lost in meditation, so they turned to his consort Parvati. The goddess immediately set out to do battle with this dreaded demon in the form of Kali. She rode into the battleground on her lion, and Raktabija experienced fear for the first time in his demonic heart. Kali ordered the gods to attack Raktabija. Kali then spread her tongue to cover the battlefield preventing even a single drop of Raktabija's blood from falling on the group. Thus preventing Raktabija from reproducing himself.

Drunk on Raktabija's blood, the Goddess Kali ran across the cosmos killing anyone who dared cross her path. She adorned herself with the heads, limbs and entrails of her victims. To pacify her, Shiva threw himself under her feet. This stopped the goddess. She calmed down, embraced her husband, and shed her ferocious form. Kali is considered to be a malevolent form of Parvati Believed that humans lived forever before she was created Kali's name is also a form of the Sanskrit work "kala," which means "time" One of the most widely recognized Hindu goddess One of the few Hindu deities to whom blood sacrifices are still made Shiva: Hindu God of Destruction - The Buddha Garden Shiva: Hindu God of Destruction Shiva: Hindu God of Destruction Shiva is one of the most widely known and revered Hindu gods. Shiva is often worshipped as one member of the Holy Trinity of Hinduism, with the gods Brahma (the Creator) and Vishnu (the Protector) being the other deities.

While Shiva doesn�t show up until late in the history of Hinduism , it is believed that He evolved from the earlier Hindu God Rudra, mentioned in the Rig Veda , and is normally associated with destruction. However, Shiva is also associated with reincarnation, since in Hinduism death is believed to be a necessary step for rebirth. But Shiva has different aspects that appear at different times. Shiva is often depicted as the destroyer, and will appear as a naked ascetic accompanied by demons, encircled with serpents and necklaces of skulls. Sometimes Shiva wanders into crematoriums, smears his body with ash and dances in the light of the funeral pyres, reminding all about the transitory nature of material things. Another common form is that of Dancing Shiva Nataraja . This is Shiva engaged in a cosmic dance. It is believed that the energy from this dance sustains the cosmos, and when Shiva is finished with this dance, this universe will end and a new one will begin. Sometimes the creative force of Shiva is depicted, and in particular Shiva is represented by a phallus, known as the lingam.

Other times Shiva is seen in statues as the god of meditation and asceticism. He will be depicted sitting cross-legged with his eyes half-closed. Shiva Meditation The God of Destruction Is also The God Of Yoga Price: $83.95 Shiva�s Family Ties One of the many complexities about the God Shiva is his role as a head of household. According to different sources, he has several wives, with the major Hindu Goddess Parvati being one of them, and the lesser Hindu Goddess Ganga being another. While the majority of stories detailing the Shiva�s romantic side deal primarily with his relationship with Parvati, he is also respected for his willingness to throw himself at the feet of another consort, the Goddess Kali in order to stop her blood thirsty rampage of destruction. As for his offspring, One of his sons, Ganesh, is the elephant headed god of success who is recognized and worshipped nearly universally throughout Hindu India. Another son, Skanda, is worshipped primarily in Southern India. Shiva�s Symbols and Iconography Snakes are often associated with Shiva, since they are able to regenerate their skins by discarding their old ones.

Likewise, in southern India, deer are associated with Shiva because their antlers re-grow after falling out. Shiva is also associated with the rainy season, as the monsoon rains transform the ground from dessert into fertile valley. Shiva rides upon his mount, Nandi the Bull, which is also worshipped by some groups as a deity in its own. As Rudra, Shiva is depicted with a Deer. As an ascetic, Lord Shiva may be depicted sitting upon a tiger pelt. Shiva is most commonly depicted with four arms. Resin Shiva Is Indian dance influenced by the poses of the Gods and Goddesses?Price: $34.95 In the Dancing Shiva Nataraja form, the left leg is lifted slightly off the ground, and this rising up represents liberation (as in freedom from attachment, or liberation from samsara). The right leg is slightly bent and tramples upon a demon, representing the conquest over ignorance. A halo surrounds the King Of The Dance, and the flames in the halo represent Angi The God Of Fire .

Another form is of Shiva and Parvati combined into one image, where the right side of the statue depicts Shiva, while the left hand side of the statue depicts his consort Parvati. This is referred to as a Shiva Shakti or a Hari Hara (Day and Night) statue, among other names. But Shiva is not always represented in anthropomorphic (human-like) form. One of the most common representations is that of a lingam � a stone phallic symbol � that is venerated in temples. This form is said to house the creative energy of the universe, and so during pooja (worship), milk is poured over the lingam to cool it. Sometimes the lingam will have an image of Shiva�s face carved into the stone as well, and in at least one instance, there is a tall standing lingam with a representation of the entire body of Shiva carved into it. The Weapons of Shiva Many Hindu Gods and Goddesses carry weapons, and Shiva is often depicted carrying a trident, as the three tips of this weapon represent the creation, protection (or sustaining), and destruction of the universe.

Because he is so closely associated with ascetics, who renounce the world in search of spiritual enlightenment, Shiva is often depicted carrying an ax, which is to symbolize the severing of ties to the material world. But undoubtedly Shiva�s most powerful weapon is his Third Eye in the middle of his forehead, which, when opened fully, can incinerate man, demon, or god. See Also: Hindu 'goddess' of 'Doomsday, Death & Destruction' Kali Showcased on NY Empire State Bldg - YouTube Hindu 'goddess' of 'Doomsday, Death & Destruction' Kali Showcased on NY Empire State Bldg Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Aug 11, 2015 In essence the Empire State Building just wrote across itself, "Time For Doomsday" --- Goddess Kali, she is the Hindu god of death and destruction.

The Mark of the Beast system is about to be unveiled folks and they are prepping the masses. Tune in and listen to the full 3-hour HD unedited broadcast originally aired on 8.10.15 here: Please help support the work we do and donate! or mail: Evangelist Anita Fuentes, PO Box 9570, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91701. God richly bless you! Your life matters to God: Join me also on my website: 'Like' us on Facebook and get breaking news! Get a copy of Rob Smith's Anointed Worship CD, "How Holy Are You!" AVAILABLE NOW! Category Spirituality, Hinduism, Shiva, God of Destruction Many Paths to One God Shiva God of Destruction Love of Siva's feet eradicates bad karma. Love of Siva's feet grants you the clarity of mind. Love of Siva's feet imbues the heart with gladness. Love of Siva's feet is consciousness itself. -- Natchintanai All this universe is in the glory of God, of Siva, the God of Love. The heads and faces of men are His own, and He is in the hearts of all.

-- Yajur Veda Shiva literally means "auspiciousness, welfare". He is the third god of the Hindu Trinity. Shiva represents darkness. He is often portrayed as an "angry god" and the god of destruction. Often Lord Shiva destroys negative presences such as evil, ignorance, and death. Shiva holds a complementary role to Brahma, the god of creation. Shiva protects souls until they are ready for recreation at the hands of Brahma. Creation follows destruction. Therefore Shiva is also regarded as a reproductive power, which restores what has been dissolved. As one who restores, he is represented as the linga or phallus, a symbol of regeneration. Because of his connections with destruction, Lord Shiva is one of the most feared and heavily worshipped deities in Hinduism. The snakes coiled at different places of Lord Shiva's body have names. The serpents coiled at His ears are named Padma and Pingala. The serpents coiled at His armlets are named Kambala and Dhananjaya. The serpents at right and left wrists are named asvatara and taksaka. The serpent at his waist is called Nila.

--- Vamana Purana. Shiva has a 1,008 names and a thousand faces. His names include Mahadeva (the great god), Mahesh, Rudra, Neelkantha (the blue-throated one), and Ishwar (the supreme god). He is also called Mahayogi, or the great ascetic, who symbolises the highest form of austere penance and abstract meditation, which results in salvation. Shiva has eight forms: Rudra, Sharva, Bhava, Ugra, Bhima, Pashupati, Ishana, and Mahadeva, which, according to the Shiva Purana, correspond to the earth, water, fire, wind, sky, a yogi called Kshetragya, the sun, and the moon respectively. Shiva lives on Mount Kailas. Sometimes he rides a bull with his wife Parvati. Shiva's many-formed wife is the graceful Uma, Parvati, the fierce Durga or the blood-thirsty Kali. Her sons are Karttikeya, the warrior, and the gentle Ganesha, whose helper is a rat.

He who is without beginning and without end, in the midst of confusion, the Creator of all, of manifold form, the One embracer of the universe... by knowing Him, one is released from all fetters. Shiva is the essence of the Vedas, and the source of the Word. He is the first among the gods of this world. He is inextricably woven into all that the eye can see. Nataraja - The Lord of Dance Shiva is the creator of dance. He has uttered the first 16 rhythmic syllables ever uttered, from which the Sanskrit language was born. Shiva's dance of anger is called the Roudra Tandava and his dance of joy, the Ananda Tandava. Shiva dances the dance of creation, the dance of destruction, the dance of solace and liberation. Beneath his left foot ignorance is crushed; from his head springs the life-giving waters. It may appear strange for the god of destruction to perform the dance of creation. Remember that the world of maya is one of opposites. The death for devout Hindus is nearly synonymous with rebirth, so when one dies another one is created.

Thus, Shiva is not only a destroyer but also a creator. The rhythm he dances to is that of a world perpetually forming, dissolving and re-forming. His are the flames, the moon, the drum, and the lotus. His mount is the white bull, and the tiger has given its skin to gird his loins. Serpents coil about his limbs, and from his right hand flows the promise of release. Maha Shivaratri Maha Shivaratri, Shiva's great spiritual night, is traditionally devoted to Paramashiva (Shiva the Supreme, God). Shiva's devotees consider this night to be the holiest night of the whole year. The Maha Shivaratri night falls on the night previous to the new moon night, in the February or March - in the Phalguna month in the Hindu calendar. The devotees fast the previous day and stay awake, in sharp and devoted meditation all night. Those of the devotees who have not been yet initiated in the secret mantras of Shiva, meditate also, uttering uninterruptedly and transfigured the name of Shiva, or they sing hymns of devotion for His name.

They also adore the Shiva Lingam, the phallic symbol of Shiva. Maha Shivaratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well-being of their husbands and sons. Unmarried women pray for the appearance of their ideal husband. Shiva is said to have been married to Parvati on Sivaratri. Hindus believe that any person uttering Shiva's name with pure and ardent devotion on Mahashivaratri will be freed from all sins and will reach the adobe of Shiva, freed from the cycle of birth and death. Saktism The cult of Sakti or the mother aspect of Godhead had its roots in the Vedas. The Rg-Veda describes Sakti as the embodiment of power and the upholder of the universe. Sakti is represented as the sister of Krsna and the wife of Siva. She is worshipped as Devi, who is one with Brahman. The literature of Saktism, called the Tantra, gives a high place to women and reacts strongly against caste distinctions.

According to the doctrines of the Sakta cult (embodied in 77 Agamas), Siva or the supreme entity is impersonal and beyond activity. Sankara in his Saundarya1ahari declares: "Siva is able to function when united with Sakti; otherwise he is inert." A variant of the Saivite philosophy, which developed in Kashmir, is known as the Pratyabhijna system. Here, as Dr. Radhakrishnan says, Siva is the subject as well as the object, the experiencer as well as the experienced. "As the consciousness on which all this resultant world is established, whence it issues, is free in its nature, it cannot be restricted anywhere. As it moves in the differentiated states of waking, sleeping, etc., identifying itself with them, it never falls from its true nature as the knower." Excepted From: Hinduism by Dr. C.P.Ramaswami Aiyar, et.al., The Gazetteer of India, Volume 1, Publications Div., Government of India, 1965.

Shiva Hindu God of Destruction, Husband of Parvati Click here to view all our powerful Shiva Statues Shiva (Sanskrit: Auspicious One), or Siva, is one of the main Deities of Hinduism, worshiped as the paramount lord by the Saivite sects of India. Shiva is one of the most complex gods of India, embodying seemingly contradictory qualities. He is the destroyer and the restorer, the great ascetic and the symbol of sensuality, the benevolent herdsman of souls and the wrathful avenger. Shiva was originally known as Rudra, a minor deity addressed only three times in the Rig Veda. He gained importance after absorbing some of the characteristics of an earlier fertility god and became Shiva, part of the trinity, or trimurti, with Vishnu and Brahma. The Cult of Shiva Click here to view all our powerful Shiva Statues Shaivism, or Saivism, is one of the most popular Hindu cults. It embraces many theological practices, although all agree on three principles: pati. or God; pasu, or individual soul; and pasa, or bonds that confine the soul to earthly existence.

The aim of Shaivites is to rid their souls of bondage and achieve shivata, the "nature of Shiva". They achieve this through ascetic practices and penances, with an emphasis on yoga and renunciation. Many Shaivites become wandering sadhus, or hold men. Shiavites mark their foreheads with three horizontal marks representing the three aspects of Shiva. "Shiva often wears a snake coiled around his upper arms and neck symbolizing the power he has over the most deadly of creatures." Shiva often wears a snake coiled around his upper arms and neck symbolizing the power he has over the most deadly of creatures. Snakes are also used to symbolize the Hindu dogma of reincarnation. Their natural process of molting or shedding their skin is symbolic of the human souls transmigration of bodies from one life to another. Thiruvalangadu, north of Madras, is associated with the dance contest between Shiva and his consort in the form of Kali. According to legend, Shiva danced vigorously, and to subdue Kali, threw up his leg in the rhythm of the dance. Being a lady, Kali could not repeat this feat and stood dismayed.

This dance and the subjugation of Kali, are described in the hymns of the female saint-poet Karaikkal Ammai. Shiva's female consort and wife is Parvati; because of his generosity and reverence towards Parvati, Shiva is considered an ideal role model for a husband. The divine couple together with their sons - the six-headed Skanda and the elephant headed Shiva - reside on Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas. Shiva often holds a trident, which represents the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. It is also said to represent the threefold qualities of nature: creation, preservation and destruction, although preservation is usually attributed to Vishnu. As the destroyer Shiva is dark and terrible, encircled with serpents and a crown of skulls. Shiva wears sacred Rudraksha beads, perhaps a reference to his earlier name Rudra. The crescent moon Shiva wears on his crown, besides being a symbol of Kama the goddess of nightly love, also represents the bull, Nandi, a fertility symbol.

"Shiva holds a skull that represents samsara, the cycle of life, death and rebirth." Shiva holds a skull that represents samsara, the cycle of life, death and rebirth. Samsara is a central belief in Hinduism. Shiva himself also represents this complete cycle because he is Mahakala the Lord of Time, destroying and creating all things. His guardian is Nandi (the white bull), whose statue can often be seen watching over the main shrine. The bull is said to embody sexual energy, fertility. Riding on its back, Shiva is in control of these impulses. Shiva is represented in a variety of forms. One such form is as a lingam. The ovoid shape is a representation of the absolute perfection of Lord Shiva - if that which is beyond form had to be given form, the lingam would be the closest form to the mystical experience of the absolute perfection of Shiva. The Story of the Shiva Lingam Click here to view all our powerful Shiva Statues Shiva saw not sense in the transitory pleasures of life, so he rejected samsara, smeared his body with ash, closed his eyes and performed austerities.

Shiva's tapas generated so much heat that his body transformed into a pillar of fire - a blazing lingam that threatened to destroy the whole world. The gods did not know how to control Shiva's fire. Suddenly there appeared a yoni - the divine vessel of the mother-goddess. It caught the fiery lingam and contained its heat, thus saving the cosmos from untimely destruction. Shiva is often pictured in a pacific mood with his consort Parvati, as the cosmic dancer Nataraja, as a naked ascetic, as a mendicant beggar, as a yogi Dhakshinamurthy, and as the androgynous union of Shiva and Parvati in one body (Ardhanarisvara). Shiva also takes the form of Ardhanari, his androgynous form. The right side of the sculpture is Shiva and the left side is Parvati. The attributes of each are split directly down the middle. Another example of Shiva's apparent synthesis of male and female attributes is seen in his earrings. He often wears one earring in the style of a man and the other as a female.. Shiva is commonly depicted with a third eye.

The third eye is a symbol of higher consciousness. It is also something with which he can destroy his enemies "with fire." He can also kill all the gods and other creatures during the periodic destruction of the universe. Shiva's third eye first appeared when Parvati, his wife, playfully covered his other two eyes, therefore plunging the world into darkness and putting it in danger of destruction. The Gods and Goddesses of India The Gods and Goddesses of India In Hindu religion, there are three best known writings speaking of the Gods and their exploits. These three writings are: The Rig Veda, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Ramayana. In Hindu belief lies reincarnation, various forms of yoga to raise awareness, time as a revolving circle, karma, mantras, yantras, etc. There are several creation myths in Hindu religion. One myth is that the universe came out of chaos when a God (sometimes said to be Indra and other times Vishnu) seperated the heavens from the Earth. The Sun rose from the center of the Earth. This now made three worlds: The heavens, earth, and the air between. The Gods and Goddesses Description: Mother of the gods.

Rules Over: Sky, earth, past and the future. Agni Other Names: Pramati. Description: Has seven tongues which he uses to consume sacrifices. Fire God. Pictured as a man with three flaming heads, three legs and seven arms, clothed in black with smoke forming his standard and headdres. Rules Over: Rain, weather, storms, protector of the home, wealth, power, new beginnings, light, rebirth, immortality, justice, forgiveness, love, virility, mediation between the gods and men. Aryaman Description: God of the Heavens. Rules Over: Sun, Moon, winds, waters, seasons. Asvins Other Names: Aswins, Nasatyas. Description: Twin gods of the morning. They rode in a gold car drawn by horses or birds. The physicians of the Gods. Their Names: Dasra and Nasatya. Rules Over: Morning and evening stars, healing, old age, protection of love and marriage. Brahma Other Names: Prajapati (A form of him, at least). Description: Part of the triad with Vishnu and Shiva. Father of the gods, men and the world. Guardian of the world.

Shown riding a swan and has red skin, four heads and wore white robes. In his four arms he carries his scepter (or a spoon/string of beads), the Vedas, a bow and a water jug. Rules OveR: Magick, wisdom, knowledge. Brihaspati Description: Master of magickal power and the priesthood. Rules Over: Magick, priesthood, created things. The Buddha Description: Divine Teacher. Avatar/Incarnation of Vishnu. Rules Over: Spiritual illumination, wisdom, self-realization. Chandra Description: Moon god whose name came from the intoxicating, hallucinogenic drink made for the gods. Rules Over: Psychic visions and dreams, rising on the inner planes, pleasant forgetfulness. Devi Description: Shiva's Consort. Most powerful of the Goddesses. Durga Other Names: Jaganmatri (aspect of them, at least). Description: One of the triad with the Goddesses Uma and Parvati. In her aspect of Durga Pratyangira, she is a yellow woman with ten arms who carries a trident, sword, drum and bowl of blood. Mother Goddess.

Rules Over: Death, destruction, futility, ruin, comfort, help, power, nurturing, protection, defense. Gandharvas Description: Gods of the air, rain clouds and rain. Adept horsemen and musicians. Rules Over: Truths, medicines, musical skills, air, cloud and rain. Ganesha Other Names: Ganesa, Ganapati, Gajani. Description: Elephant-headed god of scribes and merchants. Invoked before any undertaking to ensure success. Rules Over: Wisdom, good luck, literature, books, writing, worldly success, prosperity, peace, beginnings, successful enterprises, journeys, building, overcoming obstacles, taming dangerous forces, combination of force and cunning. Ganga Description: Goddess of the river Ganges. Rules Over: Purification. Descriptoin: Benign aspect of the Great Goddess. Rules Over: Wealth, good fortune. Indra Other Names: Parjanya, Svargapati, Meghavahana, Vajri, Sashra. Description: King of the Gods, Guardian of the Eastern quarter. Pictured as fair with golden skin riding an horse, elephant (Airavata) or in a chariot drawn by two tawy horses.

Rules Over: War, weather, fertility, lightning, sky, warriors, violence, weather, fertility, lightning, sky, warriors, violence, reincarnation, rain, strength, bravery, horses, elephants, love, sensual desire, rainbow, personal intervention, law, magick power, rivers, time, seasons, storms, opposition to evil, creativity, the sun, hunting dogs, offerings. Jyeshtha Description: Goddess of bad luck. Rules Over: Revenge, dark magick. Kali Other Names: Kali Ma. Description: "The black mother" who has a dual personality exhibiting traits of both gentleness and love, revenge and terrible death. Wife of Shiva. As the female Holy Trinity she is called Prakriti (Nature). Pictured with black skin, hideous face smeared with blood, fur arms and bare breasts. She despises most males. Rules Over: Regeneration, revenge, fear, dark magick, sexual activities, protection of women. Kami Other Names: Dipaka, Gritsa, Mayi, Mara, Ragavrinta, Titha. Description: God of desire.

Ever-yojng man riding a parrot and is accompanied by his wives Rati, Vasanta, and the Apsaras. Rules Over: Physical love, pleasures, sensual desire, spring, women, flowers. Karttikeya Other Names: Skanda, Subramanya. Description: Chief war god with six heads and twelve arms. Defender of the gods. Women cannot enter his temples. Rules Over: Revenge, dark magick, war. Krishna Other Names: Vishnu (Incarnation of him). Description: Most famous avatar of Vishnu. Had 180 wives. His birth was announced by a star and angelic voices. It is said that Krishna returns at the end of each age to save the righteous, destroy sin, and establish goodness and holiness. Rules Over: Erotic delights, sexual pleasures, love, music, savior from sins. Kubera Other Names: Kuvera, Khanapati, Dhanapati, Jambhalla. Description: Dwarf god of Earth and treasures of the earth enthroned in the Himalayas. Fat, white, bejeweled, hideous dwarf with three legs and only eight teeth.

Rules Over: Fertility, wealth, treasure, minerals, gold, silver, jewels, pearls, precious stones. Lakshmi Other Names: Rukmini. Description: Goddess of love and beauty. She gave Indra the drink of soma (wise blood) from her own body so he could produce the illusion of birth-giving and become king of the devas. Rules Over: Good fortune, prosperity, success, love, feminine beauty. Manjusri Description: Patron of grammatical science. Rules Over: Enlightenment, wisdom, civilization, books and writing. Mara Rules Over: Illusion, dark magick. Parvati Other Names: Mena, Haimavati. Description: God of the Himalayas, Virgin Mother Goddess. Represents union of god and goddess, man and woman. Rules Over: Desire, ecstacy. Description: Lead souls to the afterworld. Considered a good guide, leading his followers to wealth. Rules Over: Marriage, journeys, roads, cattle, meetings, prosperity, material gain. Rama Description: Princely incarnation of Vishnu. Hero God. Rati Description: Goddess of sexual passions. Wife of Rama. Rules Over: Lust, sexual activities.

The Ribhus Description: Artisan elves who are the sons of Indra by Saranyu. Gods of crafts, horses and the Sun. Rules Over: Herbs, crops, streams, creativity, blessings. Rudra Other Names: Pasupati, Tryambaka. Description: Lord of beasts, ancient Vedic god of the dead and prince of demons. Ruddy or swarthy man with a wild temper. Rules Over: Healing, herbs, death, disease, the jungle, wild animals, the woodlands, cattle, intelligence, song, sacrifice, creation, prosperity, thieves, storms, wind, judgment. Sarasvati Description: Inventor of Sanskrit and discoverer of soma in the Himalayas. Graceful woman with white skin, wearing a crescent Moon on her brow and seated on a lotus flower. Rules Over: Arts, science, music, poetry, learning, teaching. Savitri Description: Rising and descending aspects of the Sun. Golden-haired goddess who rides in a car drawn by two brilliant horses. Rules Over: Night, rest, healing, long life, immortality, dispels tribulation.

Shiva Other Names: Siva, Mahakala, Lingodbhava, Rudra, Pashupa, Bhutapati, Tryambaka, Digambara, Nataraja, Natesa, Shiva Ardhanari. Description: Member of the Hindu triad with Brahma and Vishnu. Merciful fertility god who is also an ascetic who practices yoga. Always represents great power. Rules Over: Fertility, physical love, destruction, strength, medicine, storms, warriors, long life, healing, magick, weapons, cattle, rivers, fire, death, dance, rhythm, meditation, war, righteousness, judgment. Siva Jnana-Dakshinamurti Description: God of all wisdom. Rules Over: Wisdom, meditation. Description: God of reproduction and fertility. Rules Over: Fertility, procreation. Surya Description: Chief Sun God. Some stories say he is the original source of soma which he gave to the moon to be distributed to the gods. Dark red man with three eyes and four arms who rides a chariot pulled by seven mares, each one representing a day of the week.

Rules Over: Measures, understanding, waters, winds, complete dominion, blessings, spiritual enlightenment. Tara Description: Mother Goddess who helped to control human sexuality in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment. Rules Over: Knowledge, compassion, punishment, threats, control, enlightenment. Tvashtar Other Names: Tvashtri. Description: Creator of all things and craftsman of the gods. Created magickal weapons for the gods. Rules Over: Arts and crafts, skill with the hands, creativity, source of all blessings, granter of prosperity. Uma Other Names: Uma Haimavati. Description: Corn Goddess who is part of the trinity of the Great Goddess. Mediates conflicts between Brahma and the other gods. Rules Over: Light, beauty, fertility, harvest, crops, the Earth, the dark seasons, yogic asceticism. Vajrapani Description: God of lightning. Similar to Pan. Rules Over: Woodlands, physical love, ecstasy. Varuna Description: God of the Sun. Judge of man's deeds. Created the heavens , earth and the air between them.

Rules Over: Rain, wind, rivers, the Sun, truth, justice, punishment, heavenly gifts, law, magick power, snakes, demons, white horses, oceans, the creative will, seasons, death, rewards, prophecy. Vishnu Description: With three steps he measured the seven worlds. Intermediary between the gods and man. Sun God. To help man, Vishnu appears on Earth as a human avatar. Nine avatars are said to have already come, with a tenth yet to appear. Rules Over: Peace, power, strength, compassion, love, abundance, success, victory. Visvakarma Description: God of smiths and craftsmen. Creator and maintainer of everything in the universe, making things hold their individual shapes. Rules Over: Animals, horses, creativity, weapons making, architecture, building, smiths, craftsmen. Yama Other Names: Dharmaraja, Samana, Pitripati, Sraddaheva, Dandadhara. Description: Judge of the dead. God of death, truth and righteousness. Judges men's dharma. Rules Over: Judgment, destiny, death, punishment. Kali Kali by Micha F.

Lindemans Kali ("the black one") is the Hindu mother goddess, symbol of dissolution and destruction. She destroys ignorance, maintains the world order, and blesses and frees those who strive for the knowledge of God. In the Vedas the name is associated with Agni , the god of fire, who had seven flickering tongues of flame, of which Kali was the black, horrible tongue. This meaning of the word has meanwhile been replaced by the goddess Kali, the grim consort of Shiva . Her appearance is fearsome: baleful eyes, a protruding tongue, and four arms. In her upper left hand she wields a bloody sword and in her lower left hand she holds the severed head of a demon. With her upper right hand she makes the gesture of fearlessness, while the lower right hand confers benefits. Draped around her is a chain of severed human heads and she wears a belt made of dismembered arms. As the Divine Mother she is often represented dancing or in sexual union with Shiva. As Bhavatarini, the redeemer of the universe, she stands upon the supine form of her spouse.

She is also known as Kalikamata ("black earth-mother") and Kalaratri ("black night"). Among the Tamils she is known as Kottavei. Kali is worshipped particularly in Bengal. Her best known temples are in Kalighat and Dakshineshvara. Article details:

Question: In Hindu mythology, who is the goddess of destruction and death?
Answer: KALI